Beijing

The main features of our visit today were a visit to the Hutong area of the city and a tour of the Forbidden City. The Hutong is the only residential area of the old city which remains, a series of one storey buildings and alleyways which was where the court official and military leaders used to live. We were transported through this area by rickshaw and as we were still accommodating to the heat (about 28C) this was refreshing as even at rickshaw pace there is a nice breeze.

We then moved on to Tianamen Square which is huge and thronged with a lot of Chinese tourists and then the Forbidden City which impresses with its size, complexity and grandeur but lacks details in its interiors as most if the furniture and treasures have been removed to museums. Much to mainland China's chagrin, Changei Shek took most of them to Taiwan when he retreated there and they are in Taipei museum.